Steering-propeller



(No Model.)

B. SHAY.

STEERING PROPELLBR.

No. 269,725. Patented Dec. 26. 1882.

ATTORNEYS.

IN VEN TOR N PEYERS. PMDLHMgmpMr, Walhingklr. DV 0.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EPHRAIM SHAY, OF-HARING, MICHIGAN.

STEERlNG-PROPELLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,725, dated December 26, 1882.

Application filed September 14, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EPHR-AIM SHAY, of Haring, Wexi'ord county, Michigan, have invented a new and Improved Steering-Gear for Steam- Vessels, of which the following is a full, clear, and exam-t description.

The object of my invention is to provide in a vessel a simple and effective arrangement of propeller-blades by which the vessel may be steered.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of relerence indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vessel, showing my improved steering-gear. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the tube, showing the propelling devices.

A is a cylindrical tube, of suitable material, preferably of iron, placed transversely across the hull of the vessel B at or near the stern, or at any other suitable place.

0 G are propeller-blades attached to the shafts D D, journalcd in bearings a a on the cross-pieces 11, secured to opposite sides of the cylinderA. The shafts D D have attheiradjacent ends bevel-gear wheels E E, that mesh into and are driven by a bevel-gear wheel. F, secured to the end of a shaft, G. The shaft G is extended through the side of the cylinder A into the hold of the vessel, and is driven by any suitable power. I prefer to drive the shaft G from a pair of engines having, their cranks set at right angles, and having a linkmotion, the links being connected to a lever in the pilot-house. The steersman by moving the lever and links can run the engines in either direction, thus imparting motion to the propcller-blades O O in either direction as needed.

It will be seen that when the shaft G is revolved the bevel-gear E and the shaft D are revolved in an opposite direction to the bevelgear E and shaft D.

' The propeller-blades O on the shaft D are made with the pitch of the blades in the opposite direction from the pitch of the blades 0 on the shaft D, so that, although the shafts D and D revolve in opposite directions, the propeller-blades O and U, secured to the shafts,

will force the water in the same direction, propelling the stern of the vessel in the direction desired by the steersman.

One propelling-wheel may be used, it'desired'; but I prefer to use two, as a less number of blades on each wheel enables smaller bevelgear to be used, and there is consequently less obstruction to the passage of the water th rough the cylinder, and also, when two wheels are used, the blades, revolving in opposite directions, give better effect; The main shaft H of the propeller of the vessel (where propellerwheels are used) passes over the cylinder A; but if it is desired to use larger blades for steering-gear the shaft H may pass through the cylinder A at H, Fig. 2.

It will be seen that the steering apparatus is placed in such a position in the vessel that it is not likely to be injured either by the ac- 2 tion of the water or by anything striking it, as it is entirely protected by the hull of the vessel.

I am aware that it is not new to arrange screws within waterways formed across the hull of a vessel, so that a pilot can do the steering through the engine, and when the steampower is crippled still stop, start, or reverse the steering-screw, soas to keep the vessels head to the sea and prevent it from foundering by falling into a trough of the sea; also, that two opposite propellers for steering purposes have been mounted upon the same vertical horizontallyswinging stern-frame and connected with independent shafts driven by the motive power, but,

What I do claim as new and of my invention is I The combination, with a tube, A, placed transversely within the stern of the hull of a vessel to open at each side, and gearing E E F, operated by a shaft, G, of the two propellers U 0, having oppositely-pitched blades and fixed on separate opposite] y-rotatin gshafts D D, whereby the two propellers will'move in opposite directions, but cooperate to always force the water in the same direct-ion, as and for the purpose specified.

EPHRAIM SHAY. Witnesses:

WM. 0. HAIRE, JAMES B. BISHOP. 

